Solo //The Maze Runner Series//

Chapter 8

We walked through the city, being careful not to run into any cranks or Jorge and Brenda. I stayed ahead of the group, Newt right next to me. If I did have to trust one of these munies it would have to be him. The sun was now slowly going down, already touching the horizon. I turned into an empty building, followed by the rest of the group.

"We can sleep here." I said. Newt nodded and told the rest of the group. I went and sat down in a corner to get away from everyone. It was slowly getting easier to get used to them but I still couldn't form a sentence to the whole group.

They sat on the opposite wall, getting ready to sleep. None of them made eye contact with me, not even Newt, he was too busy trying to explain to everyone the situation at hand. I pulled out a can of food from a bag I found in a dumpster. We had stopped earlier to get food and supplies. I opened it with a bent knife and ate the contents, not caring what it tastes like, just caring if it fills me up.

Newt came up and sat in front of me.

"So what's the plan for tomorrow?" He asked.

I shrugged. "Well you said you had to get to a certain area right?"

He nodded his head.

"Well I guess you guys will head there but know, WICKED is behind all of this, but it is basically your only chance of surviving." I explained.

"What about you?" He asked.

I shrugged. "I'll come back here, live like I was before you guys came."

"You can come with us you know." He said.

I shook my head. "No I can't. I'm a crank. Your pals over there won't even come near me."

"I'll get them to allow you to. You're helping us a lot. We can repay you by getting you the cure as well." He said a hopeful glint in his eyes.

I had to laugh.

"That's what they bribed you with?" I laughed more, "The cure?"

He gave me a confused look. "What do you mean?"

I shook my head. "They haven't found a cure yet."

"Yes they have! The.... The people who "rescued" us told us only the richest people can have it!" He said, stuttering.

"No. They haven't found a cure yet. They've been trying for a long time but they haven't found the cure. You're doing stupid trials because you're immune." I said.

"Wh- what do you mean? Trials? Immune?" He asked.

"WICKED takes immune children, educates them then puts them in horrifying trials. My father used to work for them and he knew all their plans, then he caught the flare and yeah." I explained.

"Wait. So... So we're immune?" He asked.

I nodded my head. "You're a munie, all of you are."

"They told us we had the flare and only had two weeks to get to the safe haven before the flare sets in..."

"WICKED is lying and manipulative." I said. He nodded his head and got up.

"Thanks I guess." He said and walked away. I set the food down, not hungry anymore, and laid my head down. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

My eyes snapped open. A loud hush was said and soft grunts were its response. I sat up, looking into the darkness in front of me. Dark shapes were dancing in my vision but I was quiet sure if I was imagining these apparitions or not.

"Hello?" I whispered.

"Now!" A voice yelled. I didn't have time to react. A hand was placed over my mouth and I muffled a scream as other hands grabbed my arms and legs. I was lifted in the air. People were now carrying me somewhere, who knows where? I can't see their faces, I can't see where they are taking me, and I don't know if I can escape this or not.

After what seems like forever the leader, I'm guessing, demands the people carrying me to put me down. I landed on a hard cement ground with a loud thump. A cloth was put around my hands and mouth before I could have the chance to scream or even just fight back. I couldn't see anyone.

"Listen here, crank, we don't want you to "help" us with anythin'. You're just tryin' to keep us from gettin' the cure." A semi-familiar voice said. Pain exploded from my abdomen and I grunted, falling from my knees to a fetal position. More feet kicked me, fists punched, and fingers clawed at my skin. My screams were muffled as I tried to find a way out of this but I couldn't. I couldn't see and I couldn't move. My heart was pounding, an ache forming in my chest as it was getting harder to breath, and bruises already forming.

"Don't ever come near us again." The voice hissed and loud footsteps filled the room. Once the footsteps were gone, I sat up, wincing at the pain in my ribs. I wiped the tears away from my eyes or maybe that was blood. I couldn't tell. I let my body relax and get as comfortable as I could with the pain and let myself rest.

Everything hurt.

I had fell asleep and was just waking up. I don't think I slept for more then two hours. It was hard to get up but I managed to get up and start finding my way back to the group. I know for a fact that some of the munies did this to me but I was determined to help them. I had to.

I was hugging the walls of every building I went by. My kidnappers only went two buildings over so it was easy to find the original one I was in.

I found Newt wondering the halls. His eyes widened as he saw me.

"Oh my- what the hell happened to you?" He asked and rushed over to me.

"You're friends don't like me too much." I winced as he placed a hand around my back and lifted my arm over his shoulders. I limped as he brought us back to the original room. Everyone else was still asleep.

"What do you mean?" He asked as he gently sat me down. Once I was as comfortable as I was going to get, he sat down next to me.

"Last night some people took me a few buildings down from here and beat me up." I said pausing from time to time to catch my breath. My ribs hurt.

"How do you know it wasn't some cranks?" He asked.

"They said something about getting the cure and the voice sounded familiar I just don't remember who said it." I said.

"So they just beat you to a bloody pulp and left?" He asked.

I nodded my head.

"I'll talk to them." He said.

"No, I'll just leave you guys alone. If they don't want me then I won't be here. I work better when I'm solo."